Rassclaat
/ RAAS-klaat /Content note: this page explains a vulgar word for language learners. It is offensive in Jamaica — understand it, but think twice before using it.
Quick answer: Rassclaat (pronounced RAAS-klaat) is a strong Jamaican swear word built from ‘rass’ (backside) and ‘claat’ (cloth).
What does Rassclaat mean?
Rassclaat is a strong Jamaican Patois curse word used to express anger, shock or frustration, or to insult someone. Like bumbaclot, it is not acceptable in polite company.
Where does Rassclaat come from?
Rass comes from an old English word for the backside, and claat is Patois for cloth. Together they make one of the classic ‘-claat’ curses. On its own, raas! is a slightly milder exclamation, similar to ‘damn!’.
How to use Rassclaat
You will hear it often in dancehall lyrics, films and online clips. In everyday Jamaican life it is still considered rude, so most people reserve it for real anger.
| Jamaican Patois | English |
|---|---|
| Wah di rassclaat dis? | (Very rude) What the hell is this? |
| Raas! Mi lose mi key dem. | (Milder) Damn! I lost my keys. |
Other spellings
Because Patois is mostly spoken, spellings vary. You may also see: rass claat, rasclot, rassclot, raasclaat.
Related Patois words
Bumbaclot · Raas · Wah di rass · Bloodclot
Frequently asked
Is rassclaat worse than raas?
Yes. Raas alone is a milder exclamation; adding claat makes it a strong curse.
Can I say it in Jamaica?
It is best avoided — it is offensive and can cause real trouble in the wrong setting.
Look up more words in the Jamaican Patois Dictionary, or see Rassclaat in the dictionary.